Comparison the effect of Quran and lullaby on heart rate changes of hospitalized neonates in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Background and Objective: Maintain a normal heart rate in newborns in intensive care unit is an important goal in neonatal care. Non-pharmaceutical interventions in this area are important. The current study was conducted aimed to determine the effect of Quran and lullaby on heart rate changes of hospitalized neonates in NICU. 

Materials and Method: The current clinical trial study was done on 78 hospitalized newborns in neonatal intensive care unit in one of the hospitals in Jahrom in 2013-2014. Newborns were selected through convenience sampling and then were randomly allocated to three groups, Quran, Lullaby and control groups. The newborne in two intervention groups listened to lullaby or Quran via headphones during 3 days and daily for 20 minutes and in control group, headphone was laid without voice for newborns. The heart rate of newborns was recorded immediately before the interventuion, 10 and 20 minutes after the starting the intervention and finally 20 minutes after the completion of it. Data were analyzed through SPSS 19 using Greenhouse - Geisser test, ANOVA and repeated measures ANOVA.

 Results: The mean of heart rate of neonates in lullaby group, Quran and control groups before the intervention was respectively 135.7 ± 6.15, 140.56 ± 14.97 and 132.21 ± 25.21 that the difference between them was not statistically significant, but the mean change of their heart rate was significantly lower in twentieth minute in the second day in lullaby group (126.67 ± 11.22) in compare with control group (134.31±18.31) and Quran group (138.81 ± 19.12) (P = 0.016).

 Conclusion: With attention to the effect of lullaby in the second day on decreas the heart rate changes, this method can be used in the neonatal intensive care unit. Also, according to the healing effects of Quran, more research in this area is recommended.